Keeping up with ... Mt. Carmel's Craig Robinson

It came from newly hired Northwestern men's basketball coach Bill Carmody and eventually led to Robinson, a Mt. Carmel graduate, joining the Wildcats' staff as an assistant.

Making the decision to join Carmody was difficult, seeing that Robinson was a successful investment banker who would be taking a hefty pay cut to reconnect full-time with his true passion - basketball.

"It was very challenging from a salary standpoint," said Robinson, now in his second year as the head coach at Brown University. "But I thought to myself, 'I grew up on the South Side of Chicago and I would still have more than I had then.' It took me full circle, though, and immersed me in something I love."

Robinson's connection to Carmody dated to when Robinson was a star for Princeton in the early 1980s and Carmody was on Pete Carrill's staff. Robinson had dabbled in coaching even while working in the Chicago financial community, with short stints as an assistant at the Illinois Institute of Technology and as the head coach at University High in 1999-2000.

Though Robinson was a coaching novice, breaking into the college ranks in Evanston proved a good fit. He soon found many similarities between Northwestern's culture and the one he encountered Princeton two decades earlier.

Although he developed into one of the best players in Princeton history (he is still the program's No. 4 all-time scorer), the difficult transition that he underwent was still fresh in his memory.

"Like all high school players, I thought I was a really good player," remembered Robinson. "I thought the main part of the game was scoring, but playing for Coach Carrill was an awakening for me. Once I got to Princeton, I recognized that it was a process. I learned how to play basketball in a different way."

Once acclimated, he thrived under Carrill's team-first system. He was the first two-time Ivy League Player of the Year, sharing the award as a junior and winning it by himself the following season. He helped lead the Tigers to NCAA Tournament appearances as a sophomore in 1981 and two years later, when Princeton upset Oklahoma State in the tourney's first round.

Robinson was also transformed off the court during his time at Princeton.

"Growing up on the South Side of Chicago, I wasn't prepared for Princeton, both socially and academically," he said. "It opened my eyes to a different world."

He expanded his horizons further after graduation. Robinson was a fourth-round pick of the Philadelphia 76ers but didn't stick on the roster after training camp. But he wasn't ready to hang up the sneakers, so he played for two seasons in Manchester, England. The salaries overseas weren't as high as they are now, so Robinson decided to put his Ivy League degree to use.

He landed a position in the Loop at Dean Witter Reynolds and had subsequent tenures as a Vice President at Continental Bank from 1990-92, Vice President for Morgan Stanley Dean Witter from 1992-99, and as Managing Director for Loop Capital Markets, where he worked when Carmody came calling.

"Investment banking is a great career," said Robinson, who also earned an MBA from the University of Chicago in 1992. "It's challenging, lucrative, competitive -- it's a good fix for an ex-athlete. But the whole time, I was thinking that 'This isn't something I'm passionate about.' "

The passion Robinson has for basketball has already served the Brown program well.

His first Bears team was picked to land at the bottom of the Ivy League but came in fifth, with a 6-8 league record and an 11-18 finish overall. The season included a win over Big East member Providence and Brown was competitive with perennial Big Ten power Michigan State, holding the Spartans to 45 points. Robinson was named Ivy League Coach of the Year.

The Ivy League is the only conference in the country without a post-season tournament, so undefeated Cornell clinched the league's lone NCAA Tournament bid over the weekend. But with one victory in this weekend's final two games, Brown would set the school record for wins in a season.

Although the school is in Providence, R.I., it's no coincidence that there's a Windy City flavor to Brown's roster. Four freshman hail from Chicagoland -- guards Sean Kane (Carmel) and Garrett Leffelman (St. Joseph) and forwards Jelani Floyd and Peter Sullivan (Loyola). Sullivan broke into the starting lineup in the middle of the year and has been named Ivy League Rookie of the Week three times.

"I still view Chicago as one of the hotbeds of talent for all levels," said Robinson. "I'm excited about the direction the program is going."

Getting Brown headed in the right direction has sapped plenty of Robinson's energy but he's made time to keep a close eye on the presidential campaign of his brother-in-law, Illinois senator Barack Obama, who is married to Robinson's sister, Michelle.

He's been able to speak at several Obama events and is as involved on the campaign trail as his schedule allows.

"I'm able to give my views and impressions of them (the Obamas) and Brown has been very understanding of my desire to be involved," said Robinson.

His involvement in politics reminds him a bit about the time in his life when he was balancing his financial career with a smattering of basketball. Being a Division I head coach is important, both to him, his staff and players and the university, but pales in comparison to the possibility of his brother-in-law running the world's most powerful nation.

"It's kind of ironic -- there's a competitive aspect to both," said Robinson of the connection between politics and athletics. "I get to wear a couple of different hats while helping out the campaign. It's been terrific and very exciting but I'm more nervous for them than they are."

 The Missouri Valley Conference completed its men's basketball regular season schedule Saturday with former Chicago-area products residing at or near the top of five of its major statistical categories.

Illinois State sophomore guard Osiris Eldridge (Phillips) tied for the league lead in scoring with Drake's Josh Young (16.3 points per game). Eldridge's best game came in a loss to Indiana State Feb. 16, when he poured in a career-high 34 points. He came back the next game with 24 points against Missouri State and was named MVC Player of the Week for his effort, the second-such award he's won during his career.

Southern Illinois junior guard Bryan Mullins (Downers Grove South) was narrowly edged out for the league's top spot in both steals (2.2 per game) and assists (5.03 per game), finishing behind Indiana State's Gabe Moore and Drake's Adam Emmenecker, respectively. Mullins had one more steal than Moore but played in one more game. Mullins has been a member of the league's All-Defensive team the last two years and was the 2005-06 MVC Freshman of the Year.

Drake junior forward Jonathan Cox (Barrington) finished second in rebounds, pulling down 8.3 boards per game. He also was 17th in scoring (11.6 points per game) and third in three-point shooting percentage, converting 37 of 83 tries from long range (.446).

The women's meet saw three local products turn in winning performances. Illinois State senior Devon Williams (Oswego) was a double champion, taking home the top prize in the 60 and 200 meters. Her time of 7.41 in the 60 eclipsed the meet record she set last year; she won the 200 in 24.31. Williams had won the 60 meters at the last two indoor conference meets and defended her 200 meter title from a year ago.

Coming in right behind Williams in both races was Southern Illinois senior Andrea Norris (Lisle). Her time in the 60 meters was 7.50 and she clocked in at 24.62 in the 200.

Southern Illinois senior Brittany Riley (Homewood-Flossmoor) improved on her own meet record by winning Saturday's weight toss with a top throw of 79-02*#189;. That effort eclipsed the winning toss the 2007 national champion uncorked in last year's meet by more than 3½ feet. Riley was also fourth in Sunday's shot put with a throw of 45-10 despite fouling on five of her six attempts.

Williams was named the meet's Most Outstanding Track Athlete for the second straight year, while Riley repeated as the Field award winner.

Also claiming a top prize was Indiana State sophomore Lauren Martin (Conant). She was second in Saturday's long jump with a personal-best effort of 19-9 and followed that by winning Sunday's triple jump with a top leap of 40-10½. Martin also ran a leg on the Sycamore's winning 4x400 relay team to end the meet Sunday.

Illinois State senior Suzy Turner (Palatine) finished third in the 3,000 meters (9:56.53) and fifth in the mile (4:58.07). Turner also ran a leg on the Redbirds' distance medley relay, which came in third (11:56.90).

Also scoring for ISU was freshman Caitlin Roberts (York), who tied for fourth in the high jump (5-6).

The top local finisher on the men's side was Northern Iowa sophomore Mike Beese (Naperville North), who got third in the pole vault with a top clearing of 16-3¼. He was fifth in the same event at last year's indoor meet.

Illinois State's men's team was represented by junior Mike Richardson (Buffalo Grove), seventh in the 3,000 meters (8:31.47). Freshman Robert Kamentsev (Wheeling) finished just out of the scoring with a ninth-place finish in the triple jump (44-04¾).

 The Big Ten also held its Indoor Track and Field Championships over the weekend. At the men's meet in Madison, Wis., the host Badgers claimed their record eighth straight team title.

Michigan junior Adam Harris (Wheaton North) was one of the meet's brightest stars, winning the long jump and 60 meters. His best effort in the long jump was 24-10½ and his winning time in the 60 meters was 6.61, which broke the facility record. He became the first athlete from Michigan to win the long jump since 1984.

Also scoring for the Wolverines was sophomore Sean McNamara (York), eighth in the 3,000 meters (8:23.11). McNamara's high school teammate, sophomore Roger Billhardt (York) was on the distance medley relay team that finished fifth.

Purdue sophomore Adetayo Adesanya (Naperville North) was the only other Chicagoan to win an event, the high jump with a top leap of 7-¼. He finished fourth in the same event at last year's outdoor conference meet.

Illinois senior Nick Brown (Proviso East) finished sixth in the long jump (23-10¾) after entering the meet with the conference's top mark this season. He rallied for a fourth-place finish in the triple jump on Sunday (50-06¾). Fighting Illini freshman Joshua Gist (Thornwood) was fifth in the 60-meter hurdles (8.10).

Ohio State junior Patrick Whalen (Jacobs) finished fourth in the shot put with a top throw of 59-1½. He was also fourth in the same event at last year's indoor conference meet.

Whalen's high school teammate, Wisconsin redshirt freshman Evan Jager, chipped in to the Badgers' winning effort by finishing second in the mile with a time of 4:22.54.

Another high finish for the Badgers came courtesy of junior Matt Withrow (Tinley Park), third in the 5,000 meters (14:29.85).

Iowa sophomore Ray Varner (Warren) got on the board with a sixth-place finish in the 400 meters (48.52). He also ran a leg on the Hawkeyes' winning 4x400 meter relay team.

 The Big Ten Women's Track and Field Championships, held in Minneapolis, featured strong showings from three local products.

The host Gophers won the team title and the highest finish among Chicagoans was from Michigan junior Casey Taylor (Marian Catholic), who took second in the long jump (47-¾). Taylor's senior teammate Serita Williams (Crete-Monee) was seventh in the 400 meters (56.32).

 The Horizon League also held its Indoor Track and Field Championships over the weekend. Wisconsin-Milwaukee won the men's team title and Youngstown State claimed the top team spot in the women's competition.

For Illinois-Chicago's men's team, which finished third, junior Mike Savegnago (West Chicago) defended his indoor conference pole vault title. Savegnago took first with a top leap of 15-7 and also won the heptathlon with 5,026 points.

UIC senior Joe Bailey (Thornwood) took third in the weight toss (16.57 meters).

Valparaiso junior Chris Honig (Glenbard South) took second in the mile (4:14.72) and sixth in the 3,000 meters (8:48.89).

Wisconsin-Milwaukee senior Lynn Koepke (Crystal Lake) took second in the 200 (22.20).

On the women's side, Illinois-Chicago senior Idara Essien (Wheaton-Warrenville South) finished fourth in the triple jump (36-10¼) after winning the event both indoors and outdoors at the conference meet in each of the last two years.

The Flames also got points from sophomore Monique Bostert (Glenbard East), who came in fourth in the weight toss. Her best throw was 16.29 meters, which blew by the school record of 15.5 meters she set in January.

UIC sophomore Lauren Fogarty (Glenbard East) took seventh in the long jump; her best leap at the meet was 5.13 meters.

Michigan junior Curtis Dauw (St. Charles East) was a key contributor as the Wolverines easily claimed their 33rd team title. He was named first-team all-conference and scored points in four events. Dauw swam the third leg of Michigan's winning 200 freestyle relay Thursday and also had top five finishes in three individual events. He was third Saturday in the 200 butterfly (1:44.53), fourth in Friday's 100 butterfly and fifth in Thursday's 200 IM.

Iowa freshman Conor Dwyer (Loyola) was fifth in Friday's 200 freestyle (1:37.07). His preliminary time of 1:36.44 was a provisional NCAA qualifying mark and the fourth-fastest time in Iowa history.

Michigan State freshman Kevin Puskaric (Lincoln-Way East) scored for the Spartans by coming in sixth in the 200 breaststroke in 1:59.83.

Purdue junior Zach Schultz (Brother Rice) placed in all three diving events. He was fifth in Friday's 3-meter diving competition with a score of 390.75, eighth in the 1-meter Thursday, and ninth in Saturday's platform diving.

Also scoring for the Boilermakers was sophomore Sam Wilcher (Christian Liberty Academy), who clocked a 1:46.39 in the 200 butterfly, good for sixth place. His time of 1:45.53 in the prelims set a school record.

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